The National tribune., 1887-07-07
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on 4 Variety or Interesting
Subjects.

Replies 70 Questions on q VARIETY or Interesting
Subjects.
ITO CorrsspondsnGs-Wr questions on a sep-
arate sheet OF paper, give full name and address,
and mark it Correspondence Column" No atten-
ton viii be paid to communications that not
accompanied with full name and address of writer.
Our readers are requested to inclose a stamp for
reply 10 their inquiries. Postal cards will be
replied to by mail only. Replies by mail will ord-
narily be made within week. and Ii in this col
umn within three weekS.l
VI. 8. r., HopkintOn Huss.-yyhat IL the monthly
pay OF Captain First and Second Lieuenants at the
present time? Anslger. Captain of Infantry $50;
First Lieutenant, Sl25; Second Lieutenant Sll6.67.
A. rs, NorLhfeId Vt-I If soldiers pension il
granted after his death what must the widow do
TO have 1t made payable To her? 2. Canshe not get
It without the matter passing through the hands of
the soldiers attorney? AnstUer j. Write TO the
Pension Agent by whom the pension was payable.
All she WI have to do Is TO prove marriage to the
soldier ana facts of death. 2. Yes.
~ B., LotOeH. Micb.-In a disability il
alleged wilRthe soldier draw from date Of applica-
ton or from date Of medical examination? ARssoer
From the date the application filed. IL after
June 90 1880.
Vim. u. s., Homer, " Y-The First Division of
the Fifth Corps engaged in action March 20
1865, at Quaker Road, Gravelly Run, Va.
j. p j.. ashland, hy.-Application for headstOnes
for soldiers graves should be made to the Quarter
MASTER General ". s. A, this city
r. W. d., Oneida, M.-The act OF March g. 1885,
increased certain pensions from sl8 S24 and from
S2i to $50 Write to the Commissioner of Pensions.
He will probably send you a copy of the act.
n. H. H., Window MiItn.-l. Did not a Regimen
tai Band Master rank Second Lieutenant? 2.
What was the pay of Band Master in 1861? 3. Is
not a Musician entitled To bounty? AaSlCer. I.
Yes. 2. One hundred and three dollars and fifty
cents which was reduced in 1864 to SIS. g. That de-
Ponds upon when he enlisted, how long he served,
and whether his record is clear if he is entitled
TO the same bounty as a private for the same
vice.
W. L.. Crown Point. Iad--Is not foreigner who
was not Il years of age when he came this coun-
try fought in the late war and is receiving pension
for disability incurred therein, citizen, and enti
tied TO the privileges Of citizen without taking
out his naturalization papers? AnS1ger. No. Ee
must apply to the Court before ne can be a citizen
The fact that he served in the United States army
obviates the necessity of taking out first papers"
only, and he can be admitted to citizenship at once
upon application.
o. j. W.. North Bend Neb-Does the law require
a man to be exactly II years of age before making
application for timber claim? AnsVsr. No. The
law requires him tO be q years OUsr.
g. w L.. Riverside. Mass.-Heirs Of soldiers Of the
war OF 1872 are not entitled TO any pension gra-
tuity. Pension ends with the death OF the widow
4. X. O., Oneonta, ~ "a pensioner gets killed
while working on railroad, leaving dependent
Widow. Is she not entitled 10 pension? AhsaOer
W. H E., strouds6urg. Pal made application
for pension in 1879, but unable TO furnish sui
eient evidence. Il filed q new application in 1885.
III complete the claim, shall be entitled 70 ar
rearsf AnsUer. Yes. if the disability was al
legged In both claims
d. T. b., Bain6ridqs. ~ VI. IL ft right for the
Pension Office to allow the statement OF one wit
ness to override that Of three others? q Is it of
~
affidavit to what extent he thinks the claimant dis
abed? 3. If a soldier proves that he is disabled
to greater extent than the loss of a leg or arm,
can he not draw more than 50 per month? L. III
soldier has disability resulting from the one
for which he Is already pensioned can he obtain
an increase? 5. II a soldier is dropped from the
pension rolls has the President authority to rein
state him? 4nS1rer. i. That depends upon the
quality of the testimony. 2. Yes. 3. That depends
upon whether proof Is satisfactory to the Commits
sioner of Pensions. III il was satisfactory and the
medical examination supported the proof he would
receive q rating commensurate with the degree Of
disability. 4. That depends upon whether the COM
blnsd disabilities amount to more than his present
pension. ia the opinion of the Examng Surgeon.
IL so, yes. 5. No. The Commissioner Of Pensions
Is the only person who can restore him to the PEN
sion roll
E. p b.. SqccGrappa, he-You cannot procure n
duplicate copy of your discharge from the Navy.
There IS no law authorizing the issuance of dupli-
Gates or copies Of naval discharges.
n. A. K, Fletcher, VL-l. IL the prisoners of war
bill should become law, woHld IL benefit the wild
pay for five years from death of soldier been al
lowed his heirs? 3. What chance have they Z?
Ans'eer. 1. That we cannot say, because there is
no bill pending; the last Congress having refused
TO take 1t up such bills will have to be introduced
again, and we cannot say what any bill yet to be
introduced will contain. 2. There has been no
such law since 1895, and it was not intended to
apply to any other class of soldiers than those who
served in the Indian war Of that year. That SEQ
ton Of the Statutes Is obsolete, and has been for
many years. 3. No chance whatever
r. G.. Ion. IO0a.-l- If the proposed pension bill
OF the GA. X. should become law would il benefit
those pensioners who now receive less than So per
month? 2. II pensioner should write to the
Commissioner OF Pensions asking his personal con-
slderation of a case, would he do 50, and if be
thought he should be allowed pension some
disability, would it be granted? 3 What does
- total disability mean used in the above re-
ferred to GAR: bill? Ans'cer- |. No, unless suf
fering from disabilities additional to those for which
pensioned. 2. lt Is impossible for the Commissioners
OF Pensions TO personally act upon every case pre-
sented TO him or in which he is requested to act
NJ q he IN 400 nara nal
action of the Commissioner or otherwise IL it
shall be found that the soldier should have been
allowed pension on other disability, he will prob
ably receive il. 3. What its name implies total
inability to earn subsistence by manual labor
such as would be rated by the Pension Office under
the general pension law at more than SI2.
"A. ~. s., Charleston -Four Corners, " FL A SOL
der enlisted in October, 1861, for three years. and
re-enisted in January, 1865, during the war. He
was discharged IN July, 1865 Il he not entitled to
extra bouny2 2. Is his widow not entitled to such
bounty? 3. A man drafted in August 1863
paid 500 Communication, and was exempted for three
years. He then enlisted during the remainder of
the war, and was hOnorably discharged at the close
thereof Is he not entitled to extra bounty for sec
ond service, having literally filed two places at the
same time? AIsI0er. No To all your questions.
J. s., Dodge city, KaR.-Fhere is no way To COM
pei the Adjutant General TO issue discharge where
he decides that the party is not entitled to one.
j. II. ", LOtDetiUtiie O.-Is there any provision OF
law by which orphan children can secure the land
allowed the soldier without having TO reside there
ou2 1nS1ger. In case of entry made for the bene-
III Of minor orphan children Of deceased soldiers
under provision of Section 1907 residence is not
required by either the guardian or his wards 1t IS
held TO be sufficient ii the land is properly cuIt-
waited and mproved.for the period required by law ;
that H. the five years less the period Of service OF
the deceased soldier. This can be done by hired
labor.
j. W. B., Hartldad Ran-A circular from the
General Land Office contains the following: "All
lands acquired under the provisions Of the home
stead laws are exempt from liability for debt con-
tracted prior 10 the issuing of patent therefor -
(lt ). 22g6.) Has there been an amendment since
Is this still the ruling? 1nSBcr There has been
no change OF modification of Section 2296 Il. =. It
has been held, however, in some decisions, that a
mortgage Is not an alienation of the land. IL is q
question, however, over which the Governments
exercises authority. As to the settlement of any
mortgage or debts that will have to be determined
by the local courts.
r. W. s.. BGlbsr, Lpd.-Does the late proposed
pension bill mean to give all now the rolls Sl2
that drawing less? AnslUsr. The proposed bill
does not intend TO pension persons already pen
stoned at less than Sl2. unless they are suffering
from additional disabilities which, with the dis
ability for which already pensOned. renders them
totally unable to earn u subsistence by manual
labor.
VIM ", Sidasy. GA widow draws pension ON
account of death OF her husband she remarres
and the restoration Of her former name. Can she
be returned to the peRsiOn-rOllP Anstgsr No.
Among the Northern Lakes
ofWisconsin. Minnesota and Iowa are hundreds
of delightful places where one can pass the
t,a In, az